Civil Affairs' first female Sgt. Maj. celebrated during Womens History Month

Photo By Spc. Jazzmin Spain | Sgt. Maj. Analisa Ortega as jumpmaster during Womens History Month jump on March 09,2023.  

FORT BRAGG, NC, UNITED STATES

04.03.2023

Story by Sgt. Jazzmin Spain 

22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment   

Within the armed forces, women are still considered the minority amongst the ranks, especially in senior positions. There are a limited few, however, that are working to reverse that trend. Specifically, Sgt. Maj. Analisa Marie Ortega who has already made history as the first female to achieve the rank of E-9 in the Civil Affairs branch of U.S. Army Special Operations Forces. With almost 19 years in the Army, she is the first female 38Z, Civil Affairs Non-Commissioned Officer, to reach the rank of Sgt. Maj. She was promoted April 2022 and has been an inspiration to young female soldiers throughout her career showing them that anything is possible.

“There weren't very many of us females starting out, so I'm just happy that I was able to accomplish this because we have a ton of talented females working hard as well, and to be able to achieve this gives them hope that it can be done.” said Sgt. Maj. Ortega.

Many of those females, including Master Sergeants Hope Reed and Jodi Simms credit Ortega with paving the way for them on their respective journeys in the Civil Affairs branch, one of only three Special Operations branches in the United States Army. “I…watched her forge her way in a male-dominated world…as an NCO, speaking her mind and making others hear her,” said Reed recalling her observations of Ortega serving as a company first sergeant. She added “Her accomplishments and being the first active-duty CA female SGM is no small [feat] and set a high bar for the rest of us.”

Master Sgt. Jodi Simms remembers “not having female leadership when [she] was a junior soldier.” Simms, now a ranger-qualified E-8 and course manager for the branch’s qualification course, explained “You never think about it when you first join, but now that I'm older I've realized that it's incredibly important to have representation. Now I see people like SGM Ortega and I'm more cognizant than ever that she, and others like her, have been pushing boundaries for all of us. All it takes is one person doing it before you.”

In 2012 SGM Ortega broke 6 vertebrae in her back, along with her tailbone, and shattered her right ankle from an airborne injury. She was jumping 18 months later. According to former teammate, Maj. Stefanie Thompson, “Analisa will sooner tell you about her jump injury, or the three months she spent without a shower in Afghanistan than she will tout her accomplishments as a leader. The latter is undoubtedly more impressive, but she remains humble.”
Only a year and a half after recovering from her injury, Ortega defied the odds and took the next step becoming a jumpmaster in 2015 after graduating from the U.S. Army Special Operations Command jumpmaster school. With this Women's History Month jump being her 55th, it is amazing that she is still motivated to conduct airborne operations as a leader and not just a jumper.

Now a senior leader, one of Sgt. Maj. Ortega’s main duties are to advise, mentor, and lead. As jumpmaster, a leader, a wife, a mother, and most importantly an Army soldier, Ortega wears every hat with a sense of pride and ownership.

• Date Taken: 04.03.2023
• Date Posted: 05.01.2023 12:16
• Story ID: 441856
• Location: FORT BRAGG, NC, US